Every choice we make now is the key to beating coronavirus
The threat remains, so follow these tips to lower risks and save lives, writes Scott McKeown
ONE of the things that makes the COVID-19 pandemic unique is the role that every individual plays.
Ordinary people are the ones who will make the biggest difference through our behaviour. Whether we are at work or school or out in the community living our daily lives, we all have an opportunity and a responsibility to protect lives and livelihoods by maintaining COVID-safe habits. It really is that simple, and yet incredibly effective.
We know that as the pandemic continues to spread globally, the threat of this virus will remain until there is a vaccine against COVID.
We will need to remain cautious and keep caring about every Tasmanian when considering our actions.
There are five key behaviours that need to be practised for the foreseeable future.
These will ensure we lower the risks and continue to save lives during this pandemic. Remember them, remind your family and friends about them, and practise them every day. STAY AT LEAST 1.5 METRES FROM OTHERS The more space there is between you and others the harder it is for the virus, and germs generally, to move from one person to another.
Stay 1.5 metres from others whenever you go out. Whether you are getting the groceries or meeting a friend for coffee, space saves lives.
Minimising contact also means not hugging, kissing or shaking hands when you meet up with others not from your household.
WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN with soap and warm water. Use alcohol-based hand sanitiser when out. Virus particles easily stick to the hands, where they can be passed on to other people or objects we touch.
Continuing hand-washing is really important. Using soap and thoroughly lathering it on your hands and wrists for 20 seconds before washing it off under running water gets the virus off your hands.
Hand-washing can make a huge impact — the trick is to make sure you do it several times a day, especially before and after eating, before you leave home, and as soon as you return home.
Warm water and soap are the most effective, but hand sanitiser is recommended for when you are out and don’t have access to soap and water. STAY AT HOME IF YOU ARE UNWELL and always cover coughs and sneezes. Now, more than ever, we need to be vigilant about not spreading illnesses to other people.
We know that COVID spreads when people are unwell. We must stay at home
and not go to work or study when sick with cold or flu like symptoms.
Keeping our communities and workplaces safe relies upon people staying at home when unwell, and them safely accessing healthcare.
GET TESTED FOR COVID-19 if you have any cold- or flu-like symptoms.
Early detection of new cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania will keep us safe by preventing further spread in the community.
Any time you have cold- or flu-like symptoms you should get tested for COVID-19.
If lots of people with symptoms get tested it’s more likely that we will catch any new cases quickly. This protects everyone, because anyone with the virus will get diagnosed quickly and their close contacts can be quickly identified.
If we know when and where someone got sick, we can act quickly to stop the spread.
BE AWARE OF, AND FOLLOW, the current gathering, business and travel restrictions. Information about the situation and restrictions in Tasmania is updated every day.
Knowing what is happening will help you to make informed decisions for yourself and your family.
If you run a business or an office, sticking with these restrictions will help you protect your staff and your customers.
Things are slowly looking more normal again, but there are still some restrictions in place. It’s easier to stick to the rules when we understand them.
It is up to all of us to protect all of us.
All Tasmanian-specific COVID-19 information is available at the www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au website.
Or you can phone the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.